him with what he had discovered. Doubtless, as Madame de Chevreuse
had warned him, the air of Paris was at present dangerously
unwholesome for him. He had been the means of bringing disgrace
and punishment upon the Duc de Vendome and the Duke of Beaufort,
two of the most powerful nobles in France, and a host of their
friends.

It was probable that they only recently assured themselves that
it was he who had thwarted their plans; had it been otherwise he
would scarcely have escaped their vengeance the last time that he
was in Paris. Now, from what Madame de Chevreuse had said, he had
no doubt whatever that some plot would be made against his life.
He might thwart one such attempt, but others would follow. He
resolved to lay the matter before the cardinal and take his advice.
Accordingly he waited until he was leaving; several gentlemen of
his suite accompanied him, and at the entrance to the Louvre the
men of the cardinal's guard fell in on either side. When they
reached Mazarin's hotel Hector moved up to him.

"Can I have a few words with you, your eminence?"

"Certainly, Colonel Campbell; I never retire to bed till long past
midnight. It is something serious, I see," he said quickly as they
entered his apartment, where a number of candles were burning, and
he obtained a full view of Hector's face. "Another plot?"

"Not against your eminence; it is a matter which concerns myself
only. I have been warned tonight that my share in the last affair
has been discovered, that inquiries have been made at St. Germain,
and that the various innkeepers have declared that no party